I purchased a pair of supposedly durable rimless titanium glasses for playing baseball. As an outfielder, I needed strong prescription lenses and thought I had found an incredible deal. Unfortunately, I made some serious errors. I’m sharing my experience so you can avoid the same pitfalls.
I understand the desire to save money. However, opting for extremely cheap prescription glasses for a high-impact sport like baseball will ultimately cost you more in time, frustration, and money. Learn from my mistakes and spare yourself the headache.
When I saw the word "titanium" paired with a low price, I thought I had hit the jackpot. But extremely low cost often indicates poor durability. Rimless frames depend heavily on the material strength where the lens attaches to the frame. If the titanium is low-grade or too thin, it can snap easily.
Baseball involves sliding, diving, and sweating, which places significant stress on the temples and hinges. My inexpensive frame lasted less than two months before the nose bridge began to feel loose and wobbly.
Verdict: Avoid the lowest-priced rimless titanium frames. Seek out frames specifically marketed for sports, not just everyday office wear. Assume that super-cheap quality means the frame will likely break under pressure.
The product description simply stated "Titanium," but there's a big difference between high-quality titanium and cheap titanium alloy. The inferior material bends out of shape quickly. When a frame warps, your prescription lenses sit crooked, ruining your visual clarity when you need to track a fly ball.
I should have looked for more specific details. Quality metal frames often use materials like 316L stainless steel or higher-grade titanium alloys that resist corrosion from sweat. If the seller doesn't specify the material grade, it's safe to assume it's low quality.
Verdict: Demand specifics. Look for materials known for impact and corrosion resistance. If a product only mentions "Gold," ask whether it's solid or a thin plating that will wear off quickly.
This was my biggest oversight. I only glanced at the overall star rating and skipped the one-star reviews detailing customer service issues. When I needed to correct my shipping address due to an auto-fill error, I fully admitted it was my mistake, but resolving it became a nightmare.
Customer service representatives lied to me over the phone just to end the call, making promises they never kept. I had to call back repeatedly.
One reviewer perfectly captured my experience: "Customer Service is a joke! My shipping address auto-filled the wrong zipcode... Everyone I spoke to told me a completely different story, they make promises and tell you lies just to get you off the phone."
I even asked a representative to email me confirmation of what he promised. He waited until I hung up, and the email didn't even mention the fix we discussed! Don't repeat my mistake. Poor customer service means you have no recourse if your prescription is cut incorrectly or the frame breaks—you'll lose both your money and your time.
Action Step: Always read the lowest-rated reviews first. If complaints focus on dishonesty, broken promises, or shipping errors, steer clear.
The advertisement featured a stylish rimless frame, but I didn't consider how it would perform during a baseball game. Generic frames are often too wide or have thick temple arms (the parts that rest over your ears).